Ex-Linden official gets 6 months of home confinement in bribery scheme

TRENTON -- A former Linden parking official who alerted federal authorities to his older brother’s bid-rigging and kick-back operation was sentenced today in federal court in Trenton to six months home confinement for his role in the scheme.

Anthony Rose, 49, pleaded guilty last year to mail fraud after telling investigators that his brother, Frank Rose, was abusing his position as head of a federally-funded program by extorting contractors he hired to renovate homes for poor and elderly residents.

The younger Rose, who was a silent partner to two of the developers, said he had to give kickbacks, too, admitting paying his brother to have 37 contracts valued at $1.33 million.

Five people were found guilty in the case, including Frank Rose, who was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison.

Anthony Rose was facing up to 41 months under the terms of his plea deal, said Richard E. Constable III, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case.

But U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson opted for less.

“Judge Thompson’s sentence is a recognition of the fact that Anthony Rose came forward and blew the whistle,” Constable said.